The New England Patriots got off to a rocky, 1-2 start to the 2026 NFL season but have since turned it around.
The Patriots enter their Week 7 "Thursday Night Football" matchup against the Chicago Bears riding a three-game winning streak. They earned an impressive win over the Buffalo Bills before knocking off the Las Vegas Raiders
and New York Jets to put themselves back in the early-season playoff race.New England's path toward a second consecutive AFC title won't be easy, however. The Kansas City Chiefs are sitting at a formidable 5-0 entering Week 7 while the Bills, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and the entire AFC North could prove difficult outs come January.
With that in mind, Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf figure to explore potential
upgrades for the Patriots ahead of the 2026 NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10. The Patriots have a talented roster overall, but there remain areas for the team to shore up at edge rusher, wide receiver and, potentially, running back.
Who are some of the top players the Patriots could target in potential trades? Here's a look at nine candidates for the team to consider, from big swings to modest additions.
Edge Maxx Crosby, Raiders
Will the Raiders trade Crosby in-season? Maybe not, but if they fall out of contention, they could consider moving him after their trade with the Baltimore Ravens fell through during the 2026 NFL offseason.
If Las Vegas does move on from Crosby, the Patriots should be very interested in his services. They are only three-deep on the edge currently and rank just 16th in pressure rate despite blitzing at the sixth-highest rate league-wide, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats.
Crosby, who plays with a relentless motor, would also be a nice cultural fit for Vrabel and Zak Kuhr's defense. The 29-year-old has posted 71.5 career sacks and 135 TFL in 116 career games and could be a nice, long-term partner for rookie Gabe Jacas.
Edge Josh Sweat, Cardinals
There will still be quality edge rushers on the market even if a big fish like Crosby isn't available. Sweat would be a nice consolation prize for the Patriots, as the nine-year veteran has a proven track record, averaging 8.5 sacks per game over the previous six seasons entering the 2026 campaign.
Sweat was also part of a Super Bowl-winning team with the Eagles in 2024. The Cardinals could be willing to part with the 29-year-old, and he would drastically improve both the team's depth and talent on the edge.
Edge Khalil Mack, Chargers
Mack is likely nearing the end of his illustrious career, but the 35-year-old is still producing at a solid clip. He has racked up three sacks and 18 pressures across six games despite playing for the lowly Chargers and could receive a jolt from joining a potential contender like the Patriots.
The impressive part of Mack's performance this season? He has still played 71.3% of the Chargers' defensive snaps. That Mack can still play a majority of the snaps will make him an even more attractive trade target for teams like the Patriots, as he can be used as either a starter or a rotational player.
WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars
The Patriots improved their receiving corps drastically in the offseason by acquiring A.J. Brown, but they need to replenish their depth amid a slew of injuries. Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs are on IR, so the team could stand to add more depth and talent behind Brown and DeMario Douglas.
Thomas could be an intriguing buy-low opportunity for the Patriots. The 2024 first-round pick has fallen out of favor in Jacksonville and played a season-low 15 offensive snaps against the Texans in Week 6. While the 24-year-old has struggled this season, he has averaged an impressive 14.5 yards per reception during his career and had 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2024.
Perhaps Thomas simply needs a change of scenery to regain his form. With Drake Maye still on a rookie contract, the Patriots can afford to kick the tires on Thomas and see if he can develop into a quality No. 2 receiver across from Brown.
WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers
Johnson would be another upside swing for the Patriots. The 2023 first-round pick has a nice combination of size (6-2, 208 pounds) and speed but has been dogged by drops and general inconsistencies at the NFL level.
Even so, Johnston averaged 53 catches for 723 yards and eight touchdowns during the 2024 and 2025 NFL seasons. And while he hasn't found consistent success this season, he is averaging a dynamic 20.6 yards per reception, albeit on only eight catches. That, plus the fact that he is under team control through the 2027 season, could convince the Patriots to take a chance on molding him into a more consistent playmaker.
WR Jerry Jeudy, Browns
Browns coach Todd Monken spoke glowingly of Jeudy after the veteran helped Cleveland pull off a last-minute win against the Ravens in Week 6. Still, Jeudy is operating as the team's clear-cut No. 3 receiver, so the Browns may be willing to move on from him given that he's only in the second year of a three-year, $52.5 million contract.
Vrabel spent the 2024 season as a consultant with the Browns and has familiarity with Jeudy. The veteran coach may have a bigger role in mind for the 27-year-old and could target him to keep bolstering New England's depth at receiver.
WR Chris Godwin Jr., Buccaneers
Godwin may not have the same kind of tantalizing potential as Johnston or Thomas at this point in his career, but the 30-year-old veteran could be a reliable depth addition for the Patriots. He's a sure-handed pass-catcher and would work in tandem with Douglas to give New England different looks out of the slot.
Godwin is averaging a career-low 9.4 yards per reception this season, but he can still be a solid role player. It's just a matter of whether teams will be willing to take on his contract, which contains a $22 million base salary for the season.
RB Tyjae Spears, Titans
Should the Patriots be comfortable with the one-two punch they currently have at running back? Rhamondre Stevenson is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry this season while TreVeyon Henderson has dealt with injuries that have limited him to 4 yards per carry.
Stevenson remains a heady pass protector while Henderson's home-run speed could help him break out at any time. Still, the Patriots may want to add another option to the fold as they seek more consistent rushing success and provide insurance behind the oft-banged-up Henderson.
Options like Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley could entice Patriots fans, but the team would more likely target a more modestly priced veteran to add to its rotation. Spears enjoyed his best season as a rookie in 2023, when Vrabel was coaching the Titans. A reunion in New England could help Spears tap back into his dual-threat capabilities as an explosive runner and a receiver.
Spears, 25, is on an expiring contract, so it wouldn't cost the Patriots much to land him in a trade.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best Patriots trade targets to bolster team's Super Bowl 61 chances
